Hopper car door closure improvement

ABSTRACT

A side of track closure mechanism is provided for engaging and exerting an inwardly directed lateral thrust against bottom dump doors in their open position for hingedly moving the doors inwardly into a closed position. The actuating mechanism includes a rotating lever having three radially spaced actuating arms, the ball ends of which are resiliently mounted to absorb shock upon engagement with resilient socket means on the car hopper doors. The actuating mechanism includes cam means for positioning of each of the arms sequentially in position so that the arms engage the door socket means of dump cars movable on a track alongside the closure mechanism. The arms releasibly engage a stop means for proper positioning of the arms for engagement of each of the arms in the socket means.

United States Patent Peterson 1 June 24, 1975 HOPPER CAR DOOR CLOSURE IMPROVEMENT William H. Peterson, l-lomewood, lll.

[75] Inventor:

U.S. Cl. 214/63; 105/241 C Int. Cl B6ld 7/30 Field of Search 214/58, 63; 105/241 C References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1957 Shields 214/58 X 9/1974 Peterson et al. 214/63 Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Richard J. Myers 5 7 ABSTRACT A side of track closure mechanism is provided for engaging and exerting an inwardly directed lateral thrust against bottom dump doors in their open position for hingedly moving the doors inwardly into a closed position. The actuating mechanism includes a rotating lever having three radially spaced actuating arms, the ball ends of which are resiliently mounted to absorb shock upon engagement with resilient socket means on the car hopper doors. The actuating mechanism includes cam means for positioning of each of the arms sequentially in position so that the arms engage the door socket means of dump cars movable on a track alongside the closure mechanism. The arms releasibly engage a stop means for proper positioning of the arms for engagement of each of the arms in the socket means.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures llll l i '3 l 5| a J l I I A I I7 I l 69 A 20 73 2o 8 5 so 1 73 8 5 e 54 4 I7 8 I 53 54 54 .2

HOPPER CAR DOOR CLOSURE IMPROVEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to railway hopper cars having downwardly swinging doors for dumping contents of the car downwardly between the tracks on which the car'is positioned. More specifically, the invention is directed to a door closure mechanism which is positioned alongside the track and which is actuatable to exert an inwardly directed thrust for closing the doors as the car is moved alongside the mechanism.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 449,524; 1,213,327; 1,607,035; 1,803,384; 1,876,637; 2,374,155; 3,606,041 and 3,606,043.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is an improved adaption of my allowed co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 412,390, filed Nov. 2, 1973, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,023 issued Sept. 17, 1974, and is hereby incorporated by reference thereto.

It is a prime object of the present invention to provide an improved off-car alongside-of-track mechanism for closing downwardly swinging hopper doors as the car is moved alongside the mechanism. The mechanism is of a simplified design consisting of three radially spaced arms or levers rotatable about a vertical axis and having resiliently mounted actuating ball end portions which engage cam tracks or sockets disposed on the doors when the same are in an open position and are moved alongside the mechanism. The sockets have resiliently releasible portions which allow the ball portions to be released from the sockets. The longitudinal movement of the car provides the force for rotating each arm or lever in its engaged position thereby exerting a lateral thrust against the doors to hingedly swing them inwardly into the closed position. Also, cam means on the mechanism will cause each arm to be positioned immediately after it closes a door to have an adjacent arm be in position for engaging and moving the following door of the car to its closed position. Each arm is sequentially cooperative with an arm positioning stop to insure coupling between a ball arm and its door mounted socket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hopper car positioned adjacent to a closure mechanism for closing bottom dump doors;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the actuating mechanism or door closing device for the hopper doors;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the cooperation between a ball arm of the closing device and the hopper door socket;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, enlarged, showing the hopper door mounted cam track or socket means with the actuating arm just entering the socket means and taken along line 88 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but with the actuating arm beginning to leave the socket means; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line l0l0 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 and to my aforesaid co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 412,390, an open top hopper car 10 comprises a body 11 having at opposite sides thereof longitudinally extending side sills 12. The illustrated hopper car 10 comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced hoppers 13 formed by inclined end slope sheets 14. The hopper car 10 is supported on suitable wheel trucks 17, in turn carried by a conventional railway track 18. The slope sheets of the hoppers 13 direct material from the hoppers downwardly through a bottom opening (not shown) which is adapted to be closed by means of downwardly swinging side opening doors 20. The linkage mechanism shown in my aforesaid co-pending U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 412,390 is provided at each of the opposite ends of each hopper and causes the hopper doors to be opened by a side of track tripping mechanism (not shown). Since the hopper door opening on or off the car forms no part of this invention nofurther discussion will be given to it here.

A closure mechanism for the doors is generally designated by the reference character 52 and includes an actuating arm means or lever means 53 having three evenly arcuately spaced radially extending actuating arms or levers 54 each containing a ball element 55 resiliently movable due to a spring 55a (see FIGS. 2 and 5). The ball element 55 reciprocates in the end of each arm 54 and has the ball 55b which cooperates with the door 20 for raising same. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, a three sleeved or yoke member 56 extends vertically above a cam 57 and is constrained for rotary movement with the cam 57. Each arm or lever 54 is pivotally connected to a respective sleeve portion 56a of the sleeve 56 by a respective pivot means 58 for independent vertical movement of each arm 54. A resilient pad 56b of rubber or other elastomeric material above each arm 54 permits vertically pivoting of the arm 54 when required but returns the arm to a perpendicular position shown in FIG. 3. The pivot means 58 permits the lever 54 to be rocked about a substantially horizontal axis. The cam 57 includes a vertical pivot pin structure 59 (fixed to yoke member 56) which is suitably positioned for rotation within an inclined support 60 (FIGS. l-3 and 6, 7) which may consist of a metal box type construction having an inclined top wall 60a and which is suitably supported and fastened to a concrete bed 60' to one side of the track 18. The cam 57 includes inwardly extending arcuate cam faces 61 connected to cylindrical cam faces 62. An L-shaped arm 63, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is pivotally connected by pivot means 64 to the support 60. The arm 63 includes yoke fingers 65 on which is journaled a wheel cam follower 66 supported on pivot means 67. A stop 68 secured to the support 60 holds captive a spring 69 suitably having one end supported on the arm 63 for urging the cam follower 66 against the cam faces 61 and 62.

As shown in FIG. 3, the arms 54 are normally held in an inclined position parallel to top 60a by means of resilient pads 56b, of elastomeric material such as rubber, on the top and bottom sides of the arms 54 and within yoke member 56.

As best shown in FIGS. 8-10, a bracket or lug 73 is fixedly secured on the outer side of a door beam 75 of each door substantially centrally thereof. Each bracket 73 includes a resiliently releasible cam track or socket 74 which is adapted to be engaged by a respective ball portion 55 of a respective arm 54. Each socket 74 includes a cam track portion 74a which has an opening 76 defining an. elongated slot the interior of which is generally spherical to conform to the shape of each ball 55b. The cam track 74a is of greater depth at the entrant zone 78 of the ball when the slot is open than at the inner or closed end 79 of the cam track 74a. The upper portion 80 by cam track 74a has a separate pivotal part or pivot pin 80a with a closure lid 80b and may be opened by a ball portion 55b but is normally biased closed by biased spring means 81 engaging it and mounted on the lug 73.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in particular in FIGS. 6 and 7, there is provided an arm positioning stop means 82 mounted on the top wall 60a of the support 60. The stop means 82 includes a pivotal stop arm 83 held in an upwardly inclined position by biasing spring 84. The stop arm 83 is pivotally held to pivot support member 84a by pivot pin 85. The free end 86 of the stop arm 83 that engages one of the levers or arms 54 is bevelled on its upper front edge 87 presenting a bevelled surface 88 that is narrow on its left side and wider as it goes to its right side as seen in FIG. 7.

THE OPERATION The present invention is particularly suited to railway hopper cars utilized in unit train operations. Such trains consist entirely of hoppers carrying coal or other com- "minuted materials which are dumped downwardly through the tracks into suitable bin arrangements when l the train arrives at its destination. As each car moves into the unloading area a suitable cam device or other actuating means will engage a bumper plate (not shown) on the side of the car operating door levers (not shown) and the doors 20 move downwardly as the load 'is discharged by gravity through the tracks. As the car now moves along the track with its doors open it moves alongside the closure mechanism of the present invention. During this movement one of the balls 55b of the lever means 53 engages the socket 74 of the bracket 73 of one of the doors and as the car moves the arm or 'lever means 53 is rotated about an inclined axis, as best shown in FIG. 4. The movement of the car and its relationship to the arm or lever means 53 provides for an position for engaging the bracket 73. In this position to hold the cam 57 in this position. However, as the arm is rotated about its axis by the moving car the cam follower leaves the concave surface 61 and rides about the cylindrical outer cam surface 62. As the arm is rotated the engaged ball "55b is now moved free of the closed door and the spring pressed cam follower 66 rides toward the concave surfaces urging the cam to again rotate to the position wherein another actuating ball 55b is in the diagonal position ready to be engaged by the bracket and socket of a succeeding door which then again will be closed in the manner described above. The resilient pads 56b, 56b on either side of a pivotal arm or lever 54 return the arm to the neutral position generally parallel to the top wall 60a of the base 60. FIGS. 4 and 8 show the ball of an arm 54 entering the socket 74; and FIG. 4 in dotted line, left side position, shows the closed door position of the ball and socket, whereas FIG. 4 in dotted line, far right side position, and FIG. 9 both illustrate the closed position of the door with the ball moving the spring loaded cam section for release of the ball from the socket. The ball enters and leaves the socket with greater ease since it is resiliently mounted and less damage is therefore likely to occur to the lever means and the socket means. The limiting stop means 82 prevents a lever 54 and its ball 55b from banging and bouncing against the car door and therefore the ball can be guided into the socket on the car and when the lever 54 raises because ball 55b enters socket 74 and is forced upward by the upwardly inclined lower track 74a, it rides up over the bevelled edge or surface 88 of the stop means 82 releasing the lever 54 so the lever can not only rotate out of the socket as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 but the next lever 54 can now rotate and hit the stop means 82.

By the simplified mechanism shown therefore the doors are positively closed by a positive lateral force which is initiated by the longitudinal movement of the car alongside the closure mechanism. Upon engagement of an actuating ball with a socket, an arm is locked in position with the door and is only disengaged after the door has been closed whereupon the actuating arm means is then again immediately positioned ready for engagement with a succeeding door to again perform the closing function. Thus it is believed a simple and effective door closing mechanism has been provided which will achieve the objects of the present invention.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

' 1. For a hopper car having a hopper positioned between a pair of side sills and door means supported on said car for hinging movement on longitudinal axis parallel to said sills from an open substantially vertical position to a closed substantially horizontal position beneath said hopper, the improvement comprising:

a door closing mechanism including a support stationarily positioned to one side of a track on which said car is positioned,

closing arm means having actuating means thereon,

means supporting said arm means for pivotal movement about an axis on said support whereby said actuating means is movable in a generally circular path around 'saidaxis, Y engageable means on said door means, means positioning said arm means whereby said actuating means is "in actuating position t'o'engage said engageable means on'said-doonmeans when said car is moved on said trackalongsidesaidsupport thereby rotating said arm to provide alat er al force moving said door means inwardly to a closedpos'i tion,

means urging said arm mean's again into said actuatmg position,

said arm means including aplurality of radially extending arms spaced from one another arcuately,

each arm having a movable resiliently supported end portion for selective engagement with said engageable means,

stop means mounted on said support and limiting circular movement of said arm means, and

said stop means being positioned on said support for abutting engagement with said arm means to prevent its movement in a circular path when said arm means is in position for engagement with the associated engageable means.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and

said stop means including a pivotal stop member mounted on said support and biasing means holding said stop member in abutting engagement with the arm means to prevent its movement in a circular path when the arm means is in position for engagement with the engageable means.

3. The invention according to claim 2, and

said stop member including an upper facing edge adjacent the free end thereof and facing the arm means, said edge being bevelled to assist in separation of the arm means from the stop member for rotation of said arm means when disengaging from said associated engageable means when said door is swung into the horizontal closed position.

4. For a hopper car having a hopper positioned between a pair of side sills and door means supported on said car for hinging movement on longitudinal axis parallel to said sills from an open substantially vertical position to a closed substantially horizontal position beneath said hopper, the improvement comprising:

a door closing mechanism including a support stationarily positioned to one side of a track on which said car is positioned,

closing arm means having actuating means thereon,

means supporting said arm means for pivotal movement about an axis on said support whereby said actuating means is movable in a generally circular path around said axis,

engageable means on said door means,

means positioning said arm means whereby said actuating means is in actuating position to engage said engageable means on said door means when said car is moved on said track alongside said support thereby rotating said arm to provide a lateral force moving said door means inwardly to a closed position,

means urging said arm means again into said actuating position,

said arm means including a plurality of radially extending arms spaced from one another arcuately,

each arm having a movable resiliently supported end portion for selective engagement with said engageable means,

stop means mounted on said support and limiting circular movement of said arm means, and

said engageable means comprising socket means mounted on said door means,

said socket means including an elongaged slot-defining a cam track, said track defining a slot and having an open end and a closed end, said slotbeing elongated in a generally horizontal direction.

5. The invention according to claim 4, and

each arm end portion having a ball, I

said slot defining at its closed end a hinge portion,

bias means engaging and urging said hinge portion to a closing position,

said'hinge portion being moved to the open position against the action of said bias means by said ball to allow disengagement of said ball.

6. The invention according to claim 5, and

said biased hinge portion being on the top of said slot when the door is in the fully open vertical position and said socket portion being upward of the car toward the closing mechanism when door is in the inclined closed position of the hopper.

7. The invention according to claim 4, and

each arm end portion having a ball and said cam track being a spherical elongatedinternal slot having an outer ball restraining edge, the closed end having a biased hinge portion for releasing said ball in the closed position of the door.

8. For a hopper car having a hopper positioned between a pair of side sills and door means supported on said car for hinging movement on longitudinal axis parallel to said sills from an open substantially vertical position to a closed substantially horizontal position beneath said hopper, the improvement comprising:

a door closing mechanism including a support stationarily positioned to one side ofa track on which said car is positioned,

closing arm means having actuating means thereon,

means supporting said arm means for pivotal movement about an axis on said support whereby said actuating means is movable in a generally circular path around said axis,

means positioning said arm means whereby said actuating means is in actuating position adapted to engage engageable means on said door means when said car is moved on said track alongside said support thereby rotating said arm to provide a lateral force moving said door means inwardly to a closed position,

means urging said arm means again into said actuating position,

said arm means including a plurality of radially extending arms spaced from one another arcuately, and

stop means mounted on said support and limiting circular movement of said arm means,

said stop means being positioned on said support for abutting engagement with said arm means to prevent its movement in a circular path when said arm means is in position for engagement with the associated engageable means.

9. The invention according to claim 8, and

said stop means including a pivotal stop member mounted on said support and biasing means holding said stop member in abutting engagement with the arm means to prevent its movement in a circular path when the arm means is in position for engagement with the engageable means.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 9, and

said stop member including an upper facing edge adjacent the free end thereof and facing the arm means, said edge being bevelled to assist in separation of the arm means from the stop member for rotation of said arm means when disengaging from said associated engageable means when said door is swung into the horizontal closed position.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 8, and

said engageable means comprising socket means mounted on said door means,

said socket means including an elongated slot defining a cam track, said track defining a slot and having an open end and a closed end, said slot being elongated in a generally horizontal direction.

12. The invention according to claim 11, and

each arm end portion having a ball, said slot defining at its closed enda hinge portion,

bias means engaging and urging said hinge portion to a closing position,

said hinge portion being moved to the open position against the action of said bias means by said ball to allow disengagement of said ball,

said biased hinge portion being on the top of said slot when the door is in the fully open vertical position and said socket portion being upward of the car toward the closing mechanism when door is in the inclined closed position of the hopper. 

1. For a hopper car having a hopper positioned between a pair of side sills and door means supported on said car for hinging movement on longitudinal axis parallel to said sills from an open substantially vertical position to a closed substantially horizontal position beneath said hopper, the improvement comprising: a door closing mechanism including a support stationarily positioned to one side of a track on which said car is positioned, closing arm means having actuating means thereon, means supporting said arm means for pivotal movement about an axis on said support whereby said actuating means is movable in a generally circular path around said axis, engageable means on said door means, means positioning said arm means whereby said actuating means is in actuating position to engage said engageable means on said door means when said car is moved on said track alongside said support thereby rotating said arm to provide a lateral force moving said door means inwardly to a closed position, means urging said arm means again into said actuating position, said arm means including a plurality of radially extending arms spaced from one another arcuately, each arm having a movable resiliently supported end portion for selective engagement with said engageable means, stop means mounted on said support and limiting circular movement of said arm means, and said stop means being positioned on said support for abutting engagement with said arm means to prevent its movement in a circular path when said arm means is in position for engagement with the associated engageable means.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, and said stop means including a pivotal stop member mounted on said support and biasing means holding said stop member in abutting engagement with the arm means to prevent its movement in a circular path when the arm means is in position for engagement with the engageable means.
 3. The invention according to claim 2, and said stop member including an upper facing edge adjacent the free end thereof and facing the arm means, said edge being bevelled to assist in separation of the arm means from the stop member for rotation of said arm means when disengaging from said associated engageable means when said door is swung into the horizontal closed position.
 4. For a hopper car having a hopper positioned between a pair of side sills and door means supported on said car for hinging movement on longitudinal axis parallel to said sills from an open substantially vertical position to a closed substantially horizontal position beneath said hopper, the improvement comprising: a door closing mechanism including a support stationarily positioned to one side of a track on which said car is positioned, closing arm means having actuating means thereon, means supporting said arm means for pivotal movement about an axis on said support whereby said actuating means is movable in a generally circular path around said axis, engageable means on said door means, means positioning said arm means whereby said actuating means is in actuating position to engage said engageable means on said door means when said car is moved on said track alongside said support thereby rotating said arm to provide a lateral force moving said door means inwardly to a closed position, means urging said arm means again into said actuating position, said arm means including a plurality of radially extending arms spaced from one another arcuately, each arm having a movable resiliently supported end portion for selective engagement with said engageable means, stop means mounted on said support and limiting circular movement of said arm means, and said engageable means comprising socket means mounted on said door means, said socket means including an elongaged slot defining a cam track, said track defining a slot and having an open end and a closed end, said slot being elongated in a generally horizontal direction.
 5. The invention according to claim 4, and each arm end portion having a ball, said slot defining at its closed end a hinge portion, bias means engaging and urging said hinge portion to a closing position, said hinge portion being moved to the open position against the action of said bias means by said ball to allow disengagement of said ball.
 6. The invention according to claim 5, and said biased hinge portion being on the top of said slot when the door is in the fully open vertical position and said socket portion being upward of the car toward the closing mechanism when door is in the inclined closed position of the hopper.
 7. The invention according to claim 4, and each arm end portion having a ball and said cam track being a spherical elongated internal slot having an outer ball restraining edge, the closed end having a biased hinge portion for releasing said ball in the closed position of the door.
 8. For a hopper car having a hopper positioned between a pair of side sills and door means supported on said car for hinging movement on longitudinal axis parallel to said sills from an open substantially vertical position to a closed substantially horizontal position beneath said hopper, the improvement comprising: a door closing mechanism including a support stationarily positioned to one side of a track on which said car is positioned, closing arm means having actuating means thereon, means supporting said arm means for pivotal movement about an axis on said support whereby said actuating means is movable in a generally circular path around said axis, means positioning said arm means whereby said actuating means is in actuating position adapted to engage engageable means on said door means when said car is moved on said track alongside said support thereby rotating said arm to provide a lateral force moving said door means inwardly to a closEd position, means urging said arm means again into said actuating position, said arm means including a plurality of radially extending arms spaced from one another arcuately, and stop means mounted on said support and limiting circular movement of said arm means, said stop means being positioned on said support for abutting engagement with said arm means to prevent its movement in a circular path when said arm means is in position for engagement with the associated engageable means.
 9. The invention according to claim 8, and said stop means including a pivotal stop member mounted on said support and biasing means holding said stop member in abutting engagement with the arm means to prevent its movement in a circular path when the arm means is in position for engagement with the engageable means.
 10. The invention in accordance with claim 9, and said stop member including an upper facing edge adjacent the free end thereof and facing the arm means, said edge being bevelled to assist in separation of the arm means from the stop member for rotation of said arm means when disengaging from said associated engageable means when said door is swung into the horizontal closed position.
 11. The invention in accordance with claim 8, and said engageable means comprising socket means mounted on said door means, said socket means including an elongated slot defining a cam track, said track defining a slot and having an open end and a closed end, said slot being elongated in a generally horizontal direction.
 12. The invention according to claim 11, and each arm end portion having a ball, said slot defining at its closed end a hinge portion, bias means engaging and urging said hinge portion to a closing position, said hinge portion being moved to the open position against the action of said bias means by said ball to allow disengagement of said ball, said biased hinge portion being on the top of said slot when the door is in the fully open vertical position and said socket portion being upward of the car toward the closing mechanism when door is in the inclined closed position of the hopper. 